“You don’t say,” Adrianna mutters, shaking her head. “How? When?”
Eva’s cheeks flush a deep red. “Things between us got heated over the first semester, and that’s why I didn’t want to go home for winter break as I stayed here with him in the cottage.” She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. “My family found out about the wedding and came to try to stop it, but they were too late.”
“What happened?” Camilla asks.
“It all happened so fast, but my father threatened to kill Oak and then my mom got hold of a gun and threatened to kill me.”
“Your mom threatened to kill you?” I ask, finding it hard to believe that a mother could be that heartless, even with the shitty excuse of a mother I have.
Eva nods. “But she shot Oak instead, in the shoulder.” Her throat bobs as she swallows. “And then Archer Daniels managed to save the day and shot her dead.”
“Oh my God,” Adrianna says, holding a hand over her mouth. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, she was never much of a mother to me, anyway.”
Camilla shakes her head. “Still, she was your mom.”
“I think I’m still in shock over it all, to be honest.” Eva looks a little vacant.
“What about your dad?” I ask.
“He left without a fight and took my mom’s body.”
“Holy shit, that is one crazy winter break,” Camilla says, grabbing a piece of pizza out of a box and shoving it into her mouth. “Where is Oak now?”
“Nurse Jasper is checking on his wound in the infirmary. She says he’ll be good as new in a couple of days.” Eva’s brow furrows. “I wanted to tell the three of you to your face. As Oak intends to announce our marriage to the school tomorrow.”
“Well, I’ll tell you I’m a little miffed,” I say.
Everyone looks at me. “Miffed about what?”
“I was sure I would have been your maid of honor.”
My friends all laugh, and Eva shakes her head. “Unfortunately, it was kind of last minute.” She shrugs. “No time for invites and all that.”
Camilla shakes her head. “You’re one lucky bitch, though. Principal Byrne is hot as hell.”
“I’m starving,” I say, reaching over for a slice of pizza. “Who got the food in?”
“Oak did. He ordered it, so we could have dinner while I told you.”
“How sweet,” Adrianna says, grabbing a huge chicken wing out of another box and shoving it into her mouth.
“So, are you happy Mrs. Byrne?” I ask, teasing a little.
Eva looks me in the eye and nods. “Yes, never been happier. Oak has promised he’ll keep me safe and I won’t have to have anything to do with the family business.”
I smile, but I can’t understand why instead of feeling happy for my friend I feel a tugging at my gut. A bit like a longing to feel the same happiness as her. She’s lucky. Women in our positions do normally end up in arranged marriages, but I’d never believed that was to be my fate until this break.
“How was your break?” Eva asks.
I shrug. “It was pretty boring and definitely not as eventful as yours, that’s for sure.”
Eva nods. “I doubt anyone’s winter break was.” She twists a strand of hair around her finger nervously. “I’m a bit anxious about the crazy gossip that’s going to break out tomorrow.”
I squeeze her shoulder and look her in the eye. “No matter what shit people say about it, just know all three of us will be here for you. No matter what.”
“Definitely,” Camilla says, lifting a can of coke up in a toast.